Grow Digital Voucher Ireland 2026: Eligibility, Funding and Website Rules

The Grow Digital Voucher is a Local Enterprise Office support for eligible Irish small businesses investing in new off-the-shelf software, related configuration and training. It can provide 50% of eligible costs, subject to the scheme’s minimum and maximum grant limits.

This guide was verified against the national Local Enterprise Office information on 29 July 2026. Schemes and interpretations can change, so discuss the project with the relevant Local Enterprise Office before committing to any supplier or expense.

Grow Digital Voucher: quick facts

Funding rate	50% of eligible project costs
Grant range	Minimum €500; maximum €5,000 per application
Lifetime limit	Up to two projects, with a maximum cumulative grant value of €5,000
Business size	Generally 1–50 paid employees, subject to the full SME and linked-enterprise rules
Required first step	A Digital for Business project completed within the previous two years
Main purpose	New off-the-shelf software subscriptions, plus eligible configuration or training

The authoritative source is the Local Enterprise Office’s Grow Digital Grant page.

Who may be eligible?

The national criteria say eligible applicants are small enterprises with between 1 and 50 paid employees that:

• Completed a Digital for Business project within the previous two years.
• Are not currently clients of Enterprise Ireland or IDA.
• Have been established and trading for at least six months.
• Are registered and operate within the area of the Local Enterprise Office.
• Are solvent and can provide the required financial information.
• Have current Revenue tax clearance and the details required for verification.

The full criteria include rules covering company structures, linked enterprises, trading income, eligible sporting bodies and charities, and excluded sectors. Do not rely on a summary where eligibility is uncertain; check the current official eligibility page and ask the relevant LEO.

What is Digital for Business?

Digital for Business is the diagnostic stage that comes before a Grow Digital Voucher application. It helps identify how technology could improve the company’s processes, customer experience, information flow or productivity. The resulting report should establish a sensible digitalisation priority rather than starting with a fashionable product.

For example, the priority might be replacing spreadsheet-based enquiries with a CRM, connecting an online shop to stock control, introducing field-service software or setting up a secure cloud workflow.

What can the voucher cover?

Eligible expenditure can include annual subscription fees for off-the-shelf software that is new to the business. Examples listed by the Local Enterprise Office include:

• eCommerce software.
• Customer relationship management systems.
• Online booking, appointment or payment software.
• Job tracking and field-service management tools.
• Order management and stock-control software.
• Electronic invoicing or signature systems.
• Cloud accounting, payroll or standard office tools where the business is newly moving to them.
• Cybersecurity, analytics, AI and certain industry-specific cloud systems.

Eligible subscriptions are generally limited to a maximum of one year and must be incurred in line with the approval conditions.

Configuration and training

The scheme can also support expert assistance configuring or integrating the new system and training management or staff to use it. The official terms state that training and configuration combined can account for no more than 50% of the overall project cost.

This is valuable because software without adoption often becomes another unused subscription. The application should explain the process improvement, who will use the system and how the business will know it has worked.

Does the Grow Digital Voucher cover a website?

This is the most important distinction for businesses searching for a website grant.

The current rules list website development only where it meets the same criteria as eligible software: an off-the-shelf software subscription that is new to the business. The Local Enterprise Office explicitly says that the Grow Digital Voucher does not support bespoke website development.

An eligible project might involve a new eCommerce subscription, booking platform or related software configuration. A custom-designed marketing website, bespoke application or custom software build should not be assumed eligible.

Discuss the exact scope with the LEO before requesting supplier commitments. A provider should be willing to separate eligible subscription, configuration and training costs from ineligible bespoke design or development.

What is not covered?

The national information identifies several ineligible costs:

• Custom or bespoke software.
• Bespoke website development.
• Systems purchased for regulatory compliance.
• Extra licences for software already used by the business.
• Expenditure incurred before the application is submitted or otherwise permitted.

The scheme also excludes or restricts certain applicants and sectors. Eligibility is assessed by the Local Enterprise Office and, where needed, Enterprise Ireland policy.

How the funding calculation works

The grant covers 50% of eligible costs. A €2,000 eligible project could therefore support a €1,000 grant. A €10,000 eligible project could reach the €5,000 maximum. VAT treatment and the final eligible-cost calculation should be confirmed in the application process.

The minimum grant is €500, which implies at least €1,000 in eligible project costs at the 50% rate. An enterprise can be approved for a maximum of two projects, but the cumulative grant value cannot exceed €5,000. A second approval depends on demonstrating progress from the Digital for Business report.

How to prepare a stronger digital project

1. Start with the operational problem

Describe the time, errors, lost opportunities or customer friction created by the current process. “We need a CRM” is weaker than “customer enquiries are split across three inboxes, follow-ups are missed and management cannot see conversion by service”.

2. Define a measurable improvement

Choose outcomes such as fewer manual steps, faster response times, more completed bookings, accurate stock information or improved reporting. Avoid promising unrealistic revenue solely from buying software.

3. Document the complete cost

Separate subscription, setup, integration, migration, training and ongoing costs. Confirm what happens after the supported first year and who owns the business data.

4. Check integration before purchase

A new system should work with the website, payments, accounting or operational tools that need to exchange information. Test export options and avoid creating a new isolated data silo.

5. Assign an internal owner

Someone within the business must be responsible for decisions, data quality, staff adoption and measurement. External configuration cannot replace internal ownership.

How to apply

1. Contact the Local Enterprise Office for the area in which the business operates.
2. Complete the Digital for Business support if it has not been completed within the required period.
3. Use the report to define the proposed software, configuration and training project.
4. Confirm eligibility, tax-clearance requirements, quotations and supporting documents with the LEO.
5. Submit the application before committing to, ordering or beginning the project.
6. Wait for the appropriate approval before incurring expenditure.
7. Implement the approved scope and retain the evidence required for payment.

The official application guidance says every application should be discussed with the applicant’s Local Enterprise Office.

Questions to ask a software provider

• Which costs are subscription, configuration, migration and training?
• Is the product genuinely new to the business?
• Can the business export its data in a usable format?
• What integrations are included and which require extra fees?
• What will renewal cost after the first year?
• How are access, backups, security and staff permissions handled?
• Which outcomes will be measured after implementation?

Frequently asked questions

Is the Grow Digital Voucher the old Trading Online Voucher?

No. Treat Grow Digital as its own current scheme with different prerequisites, costs and limitations. Do not assume older Trading Online Voucher rules apply.

Can a sole trader apply?

The current eligibility information includes self-employed individuals and partnerships carrying on a qualifying trade or profession, subject to all other criteria. Confirm the individual case with the LEO.

Can the business buy software before applying?

The official rules warn that expenditure or project activity begun before the application is submitted may be ineligible. Speak to the LEO and obtain the required approval before committing.

Does the voucher guarantee €5,000?

No. €5,000 is the maximum, not an automatic award. The grant rate is 50% of eligible costs and the project must meet the scheme conditions.

If the digital plan involves eCommerce, read our Irish eCommerce launch checklist. For broader website and systems planning, explore our digital services or discuss the project scope before requesting quotations.